The president of Taiwan, William Lai, expressed this Wednesday his gratitude to the United States for helping the island to strengthen its defensive capabilities, in vis pears of the meeting in Beijing between the leaders of China and the U.S., Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, in which the situation of the self-governed territory could be addressed.

“I would like to thank the United States for helping us strengthen our defensive capabilities as part of their strong commitment to security,” he said. the island president in a video message addressed to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, without making direct reference to the summit between Xi and Trump.

Republican Taiwan, an island ruled autonomously since 1949 and considered by Beijing as “inalienable part” of Chinese territory.

“I'm going to have that discussion with President Xi. President Xi would like us not to do it (sell weapons to Taiwan), and I'll have that discussion,” Trump said Monday from the Oval Office.

The tycoon made these statements despite the historical position of the United States, enshrined in the policies promoted from the presidency of Ronald Re agan in 1982 and known as the “six guarantees”, establishes that Washington will not consult with Beijing its decisions on the sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan.

Taiwan as “sovereign nation” and “independent”

Lai, called a “independence” and “troublemaker” by the Chinese authorities, also stressed in his video message that democracy it is Taiwan's “most precious asset,” and he added that the Taiwanese people “know well that democracy is conquered, not granted.”

“Three decades ago, the Taiwanese people resolutely cast their vote, without being intimidated by the threat of Chinese missiles, and completed the first election “direct presidential in our history,” Lai said regarding the 1996 elections, which took place amid large-scale military maneuvers in China.

“The Taiwanese people have never backed down from growing external challenges and will never submit to pressure. Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation.” eniente (…). No attempt to isolate Taiwan will alter our determination to participate in the international community,” the Taiwanese leader stressed.

The Chinese Government does not rule out the use of force to take control of Taiwan, an island ruled since 2016 by the Democratic Progressive Party (PDP), a sovereignty tendency.

For more seven decades, the US has been in the middle of the disputes between both parties, since Washington is committed by law to provide to Taiwan the necessary means for its self-defense and, although it does not maintain diplomatic ties with the island, it could defend it in case of conflict with Beijing.

In addition to dealing with arms sales, Xi could also take advantage of the summit with Trump to try to modify Washington's official stance on Taiwan, and either by promoting a declaration of “opposition” to Taiwanese independence or seeking language more favorable to the Chinese stance on “reunification.”